Rakuten, formerly known as Ebates, is a popular cashback shopping portal that allows you to earn cashback or American Express Membership Rewards points on your online purchases. Currently, Rakuten is running a flash promotion offering 10x or 10% cashback on select purchases. While the duration of this promotion is unclear, it typically lasts for a day or two. If you come across any appealing offers, it is advisable to act quickly before they expire. However, if you are hesitant to make a purchase now, there is a possibility of seeing even higher cashback rates, such as 15x, during the Thanksgiving period. Keep an eye out for increased offers across many of Rakuten’s partner brands.
For those who are unfamiliar with Rakuten or shopping portals in general, it is worth understanding how they work. Essentially, Rakuten partners with various retailers and earns a commission for referring customers to their websites. In return, Rakuten shares a portion of this commission with its members in the form of cashback or rewards points. By accessing the retailer’s website through Rakuten’s portal, you can earn cashback or points on your purchases.
One of the notable features of Rakuten is its partnership with American Express. This collaboration allows Rakuten members to choose between earning cashback or American Express Membership Rewards points. The conversion rate is 1% cashback equals 1 Membership Reward point. If you opt for earning points, you have the opportunity to receive an effective cashback rate of 21% to 28%, considering that Membership Rewards points are valued between 1.5 and 2 cents each.
To earn cashback or Membership Rewards points via Rakuten, you simply need to access the retailer’s website through Rakuten’s portal before making a purchase. Rakuten will track your transaction and credit the cashback or points to your account. It is important to note that the points will be sent to your American Express account once a quarter, specifically on February 15th, May 15th, and so on. Generally, the points populate your account on the same day, but there have been instances where it took 3 to 4 days.
Rakuten offers attractive cashback rates across a wide range of stores. Retailers like Bloomingdales and Nordstrom often have great promotions, allowing you to earn 10x cashback or more. By taking advantage of these offers, you can significantly maximize your savings.
If you’re new to Rakuten, you have the opportunity to earn an additional $40 cashback when you spend $40 or more by using a referral link. This is a great way to kickstart your cashback earnings and make your shopping experience even more rewarding.
In conclusion, Rakuten is a valuable tool for earning cashback or rewards points on your online purchases. With its current flash promotion offering 10x cashback, now is a great time to utilize the Rakuten portal. Whether you prefer earning cashback or Membership Rewards points, Rakuten provides a convenient and rewarding way to save money while shopping online.